Originally introduced to the United States as the Diamond DV-20, the Katana is an all-composite, twoplace, side-by-side training aircraft that was designed and produced in Europe by the Hoffman Öesterreische Aircraft Company (HOAC), later to be renamed Diamond Aircraft. The company’s original entry into aircraft production was with the HK-36R motorglider, so it’s no accident the Katana came out of the same factory with a 36' wingspan. The Austrian-based company opened engineering and production facilities in London, Ontario, and is now the third largest general aviation manufacturer of single engine aircraft in Canada. The Katana and its several iterations (including the Katana 100, which utilizes a Bombardier Rotax engine) remain focused on the training market. The exception is the C1 Eclipse (beginning in 1999), which features extra creature comforts and advanced avionics to reach beyond the student pilot category.